How can I safely separate mains phase for electricity transfer?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for safely transferring electricity while separating the mains phase, exploring various concepts including transformers, pulsed DC, and unconventional ideas like converting electricity to light impulses. The scope includes theoretical and practical considerations in electrical engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests exploring alternatives to transformers for phase separation, such as pulsed DC or even converting electricity to light and back, questioning the feasibility and economics of such methods.
  • Another participant challenges the idea of using light impulses for electricity transfer, citing inefficiencies in the conversion process.
  • A third participant recommends gaining a foundational understanding of electricity and electronics before pursuing new power transfer methods.
  • A later reply clarifies that the initial mention of separating the phase was intended to refer to safety in transformer design, noting the size constraints of operating at mains frequency.
  • Concerns are raised about safety when considering the use of thyristors for building a power supply without proper phase separation.
  • One participant critiques the clarity of the original post, emphasizing that the term 'transfer' is ambiguous and discussing how phase can be altered by capacitors and inductors.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and efficiency of unconventional methods for electricity transfer, with no consensus on the best approach or understanding of the initial question.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of the original post, and assumptions about the definitions of terms like 'transfer' and 'phase' are not fully explored. The discussion also highlights unresolved safety concerns related to mains electricity handling.

Crazymechanic
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Hi I am thinking of ways how to transfer electricity so that I can separate the phase magnetically or otherwise, Ok we all know transformer is one way to do it but it's big with mains frequency, other would be pulsed DC in an smps , but that's is already a very tried idea, is there any other way of for example separate the mains phase so that I would end up with something that i can safely put through rectifier and use ?
How about some sort of mains conversion to light impulses via laser or somethin and then back to electricity conversion? Ok I understand I am going Star trek now but still is there something like this even economically and any other way possible?
 
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so that I can separate the phase magnetically or otherwise
That does not make sense.
How about some sort of mains conversion to light impulses via laser or somethin and then back to electricity conversion?
Very inefficient (10-20% for electricity to laser light, if you care about efficiency, and maybe 50-60% back to electricity).

What do you want to do at all?
 
I recommend that you pick up a basic electronics book and read it over thoroughly to understand electricity and electronics before trying to come up with new power transfer methods.
 
Oh I'm sorry just my english isn't that great so about the magnet thing it was meant that for safety in a transformer the primary windings are physically separate from the secondary windings.Just that the size if operating mains 50/60hz is pretty huge as we all know it.

I was thinking about building a PSU from thyristors or something like that but then there is the problem of the safety because the mains phase isn't separated.
 
Sorry, but your posts are virtually impossible to understand.

Hi I am thinking of ways how to transfer electricity so that I can separate the phase

'transfer', whatever that means, has nothing to do with phase. Electricity can be distributed in one or two or three or more phases...see for example

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-phase_electric_power


In addition, a capacitor and a inductor will each individually alter the phase between the voltage and current. A resistor does not cause such a phase change.
See for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_reactance
 

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